April Showers (song)
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"April Showers" is a popular song with music written by Louis Silvers and lyrics by B. G. De Sylva. First published in 1921, it is one of many popular songs whose lyrics use a "Bluebird of happiness" as a symbol of cheer. ("So keep on looking for a bluebird, and waiting for his song.")
The song was introduced in the 1921 Broadway musical Bombo, where it was performed by Al Jolson. It became a well-known Jolson trademark: the first of his several recordings of the song was on Columbia Records in October 1921. It has also been recorded by many other artists.
Spike Jones and Doodles Weaver produced a parody that began with the lyrics: "When April showers, she never closes the curtain..."
The British comedians Morecambe and Wise performed a skit featuring the song, which involved a light sprinkling of water drizzling on straight man Ernie Wise whenever he sang it, but a bucket of water being thrown over Eric Morecambe whenever he did the same.
Recorded versions
- Victor Arden
- John Arpin
- Chris Barber
- Les Brown and His Band of Renown (1949)
- Carol Burnett
- Cab Calloway
- Steve Conway[disambiguation needed]
- Bing Crosby (1956)
- Ruth Etting
- Arthur Fields (1922)
- Eddie Fisher
- Judy Garland - Judy (1956)
- Eydie Gorme
- Ernie Hare (1922)
- Charles Harrison (1922)
- Ted Heath
- Woody Herman
- Joni James
- Al Jolson
- (1921 Broadway Production)
- (Performed by in 1926's A Plantation Act)
- (1936, in the film The Singing Kid)
- (Re-recorded 1946, for the film The Jolson Story)
- Teddy Joyce and His Orchestra
- Teddi King - All The King's Songs (1959)
- Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (vocal: Don Rodney) (1947)
- Abe Lyman and his California Orchestra (with vocals by Louis Rapp)
- Arthur Prysock
- The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band
- Jimmy Roselli
- Frank Sinatra
- Mel Tormé
- Leslie Uggams
- Ian Whitcomb
- Paul Whiteman and his orchestra (instrumental) (1922)
- Margaret Whiting (1948)
- Jackie Wilson
- Kai Winding
- Isadora's sneakers sing the part of the song in a Sesame Street animation clip
- Bugs Bunny (voiced by Mel Blanc) in the Warner Bros. Cartoons animated short Wet Hare
- Remixed by abstract hip hop artist ProleteR, using accompaniment from the Teddy Joyce version
